Mini Review
Gosh did I want to love this book. It's a classic! Not only that, it's a fantasy classic. And written by one of THE authors every self-respecting fantasy fan is pretty much obligated to have read (this is my first) and loved (I did not).
Does this mean I have to turn in my fantasy-fan card??
I thought it was dull. It was like I was on a blind date set up for me by my boss. I had all this pressure to fall madly in love with The Black Cauldron, and so I tried really, really hard to FORCE myself to get my heart racing over the plot or melting over the characters. Every time I picked up the book I would give myself a little pep talk that THIS would be the time I'd feel that reading spark.
But I failed to spark. Instead, I was contemplating doing laundry when I was reading. Seriously, laundry.
I'm at a total loss as to why this happened.
The plot felt slow even though objectively I know lots of things were happening. There weren't many lulls at all and the action was pretty steady throughout with lots of opportunities for peril. There were battles and double-crosses, fantasy creatures and even questing.
Despite my best efforts, I could not feel any sort of connection to the characters (it was like trying to hug damp cardboard!). Again, I'm not sure why. From a distance they look great. Tragic heroes, complex nemeses, character growth, and even a little romance of my very favorite hate-turned-love slow burn variety!
I should have been all over those characters but I wasn't. You know how something far away can look pretty great, but then when you get up close to it you realize that, whoa, not looking so good after all? The Black Cauldron feels kind of like that. If I step back and think about the events and characters, then I kind of do love it all.
Then when I was up close and actually reading it? Total snooze-fest (and cliched to boot)!
BUT, ok, I'm not sure if I should admit this on such a public forum but, erm, well,
ifeltthesamewayaboutthelordoftherings. (But loved the movie!)
Fine. I'll surrender my fantasy-fan card now.
Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key
Do you have any questions about The Black Cauldron that I haven't addressed?
Did I just commit total blasphemy and cause great offense?
Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Did I just commit total blasphemy and cause great offense?
Feel free to let me know in the comments!
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Is this the base for the obscure Disney movie? that has a pig that can predict the future?
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would like to read the book either, though I liked the movie.
Yes, the Disney movie is based on this book! Or the first book..erm, I'm not sure, but either way it's based on this series.
DeleteTry a different Lloyd Alexander book! Like the Gawgon and the Boy, or Gypsy Rizka, perhaps. I wasn't so into The Black Cauldron series either, though I'm a big fantasy lover and I loved most of his other books.
ReplyDeleteWill do! I haven't written him off completely. I haven't even written this series off completely. :)
DeleteThat's right, hand in your fantasy-fan card at once! ;P Just kidding. I'm sorry to hear this one didn't work for you! I read these books first when I was much younger and I'm not sure how I would react reading them for the first time now. In any case, The Black Cauldron isn't my favourite of the bunch (that's reserved for the last in the series, The High King).
ReplyDeleteSince this one was a disappointment, you probably aren't interested in continuing with the series, but if you do ever decide to pick another one up, I'd recommend trying The Book of Three. It might help you connect with the characters since it's the first book and introduces many of the characters that pop up in all the others.
For unrelated-to-Prydain Lloyd Alexander, might I suggest The Arkadians? It's a stand-alone and has a stories-within-a-story kind of format.
*hangs head and turns in card* :) I actually am interested in continuing on with the series. Partially out of a determination to see why it's so loved and if it gets better and partially because I own a few of the later books and I don't want to get rid of them until I've read them.
DeleteI'll add the others to my list too :) Thank you! I love story within story formats.
I remember finding Lloyd Alexander's books while I was abroad, and took a picture so I could remember to buy it when I can (which I didn't yet).
ReplyDeleteAnd...I think I felt the same way about The Hobbit (although I *tried* reading that when I was 14, and I should try again!)
I'm sorry it didn't work out!
haha yep, that's the way I felt about The Hobbit too :)
DeleteHmm, I don't think I would try this one, just based on the way I feel about the cover! LoL, I'm so shallow. I'm sorry you didn't like this one, I'm not going to attempt this one because if you are contemplating doing LAUNDRY while reading this, that can't be a good sign!
ReplyDeletehaha I'm totally shallow like that too! I like this cover. It's a million times better than the cover of the version I read.
DeleteSorry it didn't work for you! This isn't my favorite of the series--for me, it's Taran Wanderer, although it's more an intropesctive hero's journey, with the action being more small and personal, and less epic (even though there are some Exciting Adventure bits). I find that sort of journey more interesting, even though less is "happening."
ReplyDeleteI think Taran Wanderer might be one of the ones I own, so I'll be reading it at some point! I do like that type of journey, but I also like the high action kind.
DeleteI almost choked when I saw that you had given this one 2 stars. Not because I loved it--I haven't read it--but you nailed it. This is a fantasy classic. But characters that were like trying to hug damp cardboard? Oof. No wonder you were fantasizing about doing laundry.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you have to turn in your card. In fact, I'm totally going to make you one for Christmas. *schemes*
I can't wait to see that card! Will it be sparkly? I was in the baking aisle today and saw edible sparkle sprinkles and I almost bought them for you but they weren't nearly sparkly enough. My search continues.
DeleteI'm offended. Will it be sparkly? *Scoffs*
DeleteI went to try to find the sparkly coins for you again this year...but I CAN'T FIND THEM. I'm having a mini-panic attack about it, but I will prevail. More importantly...sparkliness will prevail.
Recently I read about the first chapter of The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander and then stopped. I also felt like some sort of failed fantasy fan, but at least I know now that I am not alone!
ReplyDeleteWhew, it's good to have company in this lonely little bad fantasy fan corner :) I skipped The Book of Three because I heard it was a little boring. I don't know if that was a good move on my part or a bad move.
Delete